Pinguiophyceae

Pinguiophyceae is a classis of marine Heterokontophyta. It includes five species of unicellular organisms with high concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the cytoplasm. The other common features are the lack of cell wall and the tendency for flagella loss even on the stage of zoospore, which is unusual for heterokonts. One species (Polypodochrysis teissieri) inhabits benthic substates (sometimes found the mucilage of other algae) and is able to produce lorica with one or more tubular necks. The other species live in the plankton.